The Better Living Awards, presented by Naturpedic, honor brands in each of the five Cribsie Award categories (Nursery, Play, Gear, Mealtime, Fashion) who are doing excellent work on an eco-considerate, non-toxic, Earth-loving basis. Modern parents demand not only smart design and functionality of their children’s products, but also healthy materials and sustainable practices. Please join us is giving props to these five Better Living Award recipients.

PLAY

HABAHABA makes some of the cutest toys we’ve seen. But we’re even more enamored with their social responsibility. HABA uses non-toxic, water-based stains (not paints) on their products and ships them in recycled corrugate (with as little foam as possible). Most of their toys are made with regenerative beech and maple wood, and are manufactured in Germany from PEFC-certified reforested timbers. Which in everyday terms means HABA cares a whole lot about the forests.

Finn + EmmaWith fresh prints and heirloom-quality construction, Finn + Emma’s remarkable baby clothes are made with 100 percent organic cotton and eco-friendly dyes. And we love that everything is produced in fair trade settings: the apparel is made in India, in G.O.T.S. Certified factories, using non-toxic, organic, and eco-friendly materials. Their toys are all made in Peru, by local women who set their own prices and work hours. Fair trade, indeed.

NURSERY

Earth Mama Angel BabyTrusted by hospitals (even for use in the NICU), Earth Mama Angel Baby’s non-toxic herbal skincare and teas are formulated especially for pregnant women and newborn babies. We respect their commitment to constantly research, test, and refine their products, and to educate the rest of us about the safe use of natural herbs and ingredients in personal care products. The company is based on a rare combination of generations of women’s wisdom, traditional plant medicine, and contemporary evidence-based research.

MEALTIME

OrganicKidzorganicKidz won major points with us when they created the first-ever stainless steel baby bottles—naturally bacteria resistant, unbreakable, and free from toxins. Since then, organicKidz has expanded their offerings to include thermal baby bottles, sippy cups, and food containers—plus thoughtfully designed nipples, nursing covers, and a sustainable (bamboo) drying rack. We applaud their innovation and commitment to a healthier planet for generations to come.

ABOUT NATUREPEDIC

Naturepedic was founded by environmental engineer Barry A. Cik and his two sons to provide parents with a healthier sleep environment for their children. Made with organic and non-toxic materials, their products eliminate potentially hazardous chemicals which may be found in conventional mattresses and pillows—they’re free of flame retardant chemicals, vinyl/PVC, and polyurethane foam. Naturepedic is a pioneer in the field of healthy, safe sleep products and a fantastic resource for new parents. We’re proud to have them as co-presenter of the 2015 Better Living Awards.

2014 Better Living Awards

SPONSORED BY

The Better Living Awards, presented by Babo Botanicals, honor brands in each of the five Cribsie Award categories (Nursery, Play, Gear, Mealtime, Fashion) who are doing excellent work on an eco-considerate, non-toxic, Earth-loving basis. Modern parents demand not only smart design and functionality of their children’s products, but also healthy materials and sustainable practices. Please join us is giving props to these five Better Living Award recipients.

PLAY

Green ToysRecycled milk containers are the main ingredient in every Green Toy. They’re free of even trace amounts of BPA and phthalates, and are designed without any external coating (no lead paint, that’s for sure). The toys are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes and can be recycled yet again after you open them. But perhaps best of all? Green Toys products are 100 percent made in the good old U.S. of A.

GEAR

ClekWe applaud Clek’s 2014 car seats, which have been officially deemed free of bromine and chlorine-based flame retardants. Bonus points for using GreenGuard Select Certified fabrics. And to top it all off, every part of a Clek car seat is recyclable.

FASHION

Skylar LunaDousing pajamas in chemicals bums us out in a major way. Kudos to Skylar Luna for their super-stylish (and super-soft) line of kids’ PJs that are made with 100 percent organic cotton and free of fire retardant chemicals. They’re packaged in reusable linen bags, to boot. Just perfect.

ZoLi BabyNon-toxic. Durable. Diswasher safe. It’s the trifecta of perfect feeding products. All of Zoli’s mealtime essentials are free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates; can stand up to the roughest toddler abuse; and can be tossed in the dishwasher—right down to their handy silicone place mats.